Combined pitchfork and rake



(No Model.)

J. J. BUTLER.

COMBINED PITOHFORK AND RAKE. No. 337,740. Patented Mar. 9, 1886.

N g p UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH JAMES BUTLER, OF NEAR SELECT, KENTUCKY.

COMBINED PITCHFORK AND RAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,740. dated March9,1886.

(No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH JAMES BUTLER, a citizen of the United States,residing near Select, in the county of Ohio and State of Kentucky, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Pitchfork andBake; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of thisimprovement is a pitchfork that may be convenientlyadjusted to and se curely held at a suitable angle to its handle andback, for the purpose of adapting it for use either as a fork or rake.These results are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the drawingsherewith filed as part hereof, in which the same letters of referencedenote the same parts in the different views.

Figure l is a perspective view of a pitchfork and handle embodying thefeatures of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a similar view with part brokenaway, and showing the fork adjusted at an angle to the handle. Fig. 3 isa perspective representation, with parts broken away, morefullyillustrating the construction of the forks shank.

A is the handle, provided at the fork end with a slotted head, B, madeof metal, secured to the handle A by the ordinary means of shank orsocket, as may be deemed best.

Ois the fork, having a shank, D, corresponding in size to the slot inthe metal head. B, to which it is pivotally connected, as shown at d.

D is an integral extension of the shank D, arranged to engage with andbear against the inner end of the slot in the metal head B, as shown inFig. 2, when the fork is adjusted for use as a rake.

A is a spring, secured to the handle of the rake by flanged end a andstaple a, or other suitable means, and provided at its forward end, a",with an inward flange, which extends through a perforation in the sideof the metal head B, and by entering a perforation in the shank D,provided for the purpose, locks the fork in the position shown inFig. 1. The shank D is provided with a similar perforation in a positionto correspond with and receive the inward extension, at", of the springA, and be locked in position thereby when the fork is in the positionshown in Fig. 2, in

which case its position will be braced and ad;

ditionally secured by the extension D of the shank D, engaging with thebody of the metal head B at the inner end of the slot, as shown.

By disengaging the flange a of the spring A from the perforationsmentioned in the shank D the fork may be readily adjusted to either ofthe positions shown, and the mechanism thus adapted for use either as afork or rake.

Having explained the features of my im provement, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the handle A, provided with the slotted head B andspring-latch A, and the fork O, pivoted to and within the slotted headB, and having a rectangular extension, D, perforated, as shown, andadapted to engage with and bear against the inner end of the slot in thehead B, and brace the fork at an angle when adjusted for use as a rake,as

specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH JAMES BUTLER.

Witnesses:

S. W. KIRBY, R. F. ARBUOKLE.

